Geranium plant named ‘Amri Orch’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Geranium  plant named ‘Amri Orch’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and rounded growth habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit with many flower umbels per plant; and flower umbels with numerous light red purple-colored single flowers.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Pelargonium×hortorumcultivar Amri Orch.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geraniumplant, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, commercially known asa Zonal Geranium, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Amri Orch’.

The new Geranium is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Gilroy, Calif. The objective of the breeding program isto develop new Zonal Geranium cultivars with good basal branching,freely flowering habit and attractive flower and foliage coloration.

The new Geranium originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in January, 2000 of a proprietary Pelargonium×hortorumselection identified as code number 8122-1, not patented, as the female,or seed, parent with the Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar Purple Rose,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,395, as the male, or pollen, parent.The cultivar Amri Orch was discovered and selected by the Inventor as aflowering plant within the progeny from this cross-pollination in acontrolled environment in Gilroy, Calif. in June, 2000.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings at Gilroy,Calif., since June, 2000 has shown that the unique features of this newGeranium are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Amri Orch’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Amri Orch’ as a new and distinct Geraniumcultivar:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading and rounded growth habit.    -   2. Freely basal branching habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Freely flowering habit with many large flower umbels per        plant.    -   5. Flower umbels with numerous light red purple-colored single        flowers.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of thenew Geranium differed from plants of the female parent selection in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Geranium were more vigorous than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Geranium had lighter green-colored leaves        than plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Geranium and the female parent selection        differed in flower color as plants of the female parent        selection had darker red purple-colored flowers.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of thenew Geranium differed from plants of the male parent, the cultivarPurple Rose, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Geranium were shorter and not as upright as        plants of the cultivar Purple Rose.    -   2. Plants of the new Geranium and the cultivar Purple Rose        differed in flower color as plants of the cultivar Purple Rose        had purple-colored flowers.

The new Geranium can be compared to the cultivar, Americana Deep Rose,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,383. However, in side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of the new Geraniumdiffered from plants of the cultivar Americana Deep Rose in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Geranium was not as compact as plants of        the cultivar Americana Deep Rose.    -   2. Plants of the new Geranium had longer leaf petioles than        plants of the cultivar Americana Deep Rose.    -   3. Plants of the new Geranium had longer peduncles than plants        of the cultivar Americana Deep Rose.    -   4. Plants of the new Geranium and the cultivar Americana Deep        Rose differed in flower coloration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Amri Orch’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typicalflowers and leaves of ‘Amri Orch’.

Flower and foliage colors in the photographs may differ slightly fromthe color values cited in the detailed botanical description whichaccurately describe the colors of the new Geranium.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants of the cultivar Amri Orch have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype. The aforementionedphotographs and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown in Gilroy, Calif., under commercial practice in afiberglass-covered greenhouse during the late spring with daytemperatures about 27 to 29° C., night temperatures about 16 to 18° C.and light levels about 2,000 foot-candles. Plants used for thephotographs and description were about six months from planting rootedcuttings. In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar Amri Orch.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum selection            identified as code number 8122-1, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar Purple Rose,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,395.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 12 to 14 days at 24° C.        -   Time to develop roots.—About four weeks at 18 to 24° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous, fine; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   General appearance.—Upright, outwardly spreading and rounded            growth habit.        -   Growth and branching habit.—Vigorous and very freely basal            branching with about 25 lateral branches. Pinching, that is,            removal of terminal apices, is typically not required.        -   Plant height to top of foliage.—About 26 cm.        -   Plant height to top of flower umbels.—About 32 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 48 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 22 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm.            Internode length: About 2.5 mm. Texture: Pubescent. Color:            144B.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 5.8 cm. Width: About 10.5 cm. Shape: Reniform with            slight round lobing. Apex: Rounded. Base: Cordate; somewhat            imbricate. Margin: Crenate and somewhat sinuate. Venation:            Palmate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Velvety;            pubescent. Color: Developing and fully expanded foliage,            upper surface; 147A. Developing and fully expanded foliage,            lower surface: 147B. Venation, upper surface: 144A.            Venation, lower surface: 147D. Petiole. Length: About 13 cm.            Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 146C.-   Flower description:    -   Flower arrangement and type.—Single rounded flowers arranged in        hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils. Umbels        displayed above the foliage. At full flowering, usually about 14        open and developing umbels per plant. Flowers not persistent;        umbels persistent. Flowers not fragrant.        -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In            the garden, flowering is continuous from spring until fall.            Plants start flowering about eight weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about one week on the plant.        -   Umbels.—Height: About 6.5 cm. Diameter: About 12 cm. Number            of flowers and flower buds per umbel: Freely flowering,            about 70. Flower diameter: About 4.5 cm. Flower depth            (height): About 2.5 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.            Shape: Ovoid. Color: 67C to 67D.        -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: About five petals in a single            whorl with typically one or two reduced petals per flower;            petals imbricate. Length: About 2.7 cm. Width: About 2 cm.            Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth; satiny. Aspect:            Slightly cupped. Color: When opening, upper surface: 67A.            When opening, lower surface: 73B to 73C. Fully opened, upper            two petals, upper surface: 67B; towards the base, 155C to            155D; venation, 67C. Fully opened, upper two petals, upper            surface: 67B; towards the base, 67C; at the base, 155D;            venation, 67C. Fully opened, lower surface: 78D; at the            base, 155D; venation, 68C.        -   Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five per flower in a single            whorl; not imbricate on open flowers. Length: About 1.3 cm.            Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 144A.        -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 24.5 cm. Diameter:            About 5 mm. Angle: About 30° from vertical. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A.        -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 3.6 cm.            Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Angle: Erect to about 60° from            vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Anther quantity: About            eight per flower. Anther size: About 1 by 2 mm. Anther            shape: Oval. Anther color: 50A. Pollen amount: Scarce.            Pollen color: 34B. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: One per            flower. Pistil length: About 9 mm. Stigma shape:            Five-parted, star-shaped. Stigma color: 53B. Style length:            About 2 mm. Style color: 54A. Ovary color: 139C.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development has not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to    Pelargonium has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘Amri Orch’, asherein illustrated and described.